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Friday, June 28, 2013

71 University Students of Sri Jayewardenepura Suspended

The
University of Sri Jayewardenepura has fast become a torture camp and is
unsuitable for academic purposes as the university's Vice Chancellor continues
to work against undergraduates, student unions alleged yesterday.

In an ever-rising crackdown against student activists,
the university has suspended 15 more students this week, for having
participated in a protest on Wednesday, 19 June.

The Inter University Students' Federation (IUSF), charged
that 71 undergraduates of the Jayewardenepura University have been suspended
within a mere three-week period.

IUSF Convener, Sanjeewa Bandara, claimed the students'
right to protest is being violated, as the undergraduates did not behave in a
violent manner bringing disrepute to the university.

He said suspensions would not
resolve the crisis, which has prevailed within the university over the last
four years, and which incidentally is the main cause for the students to
agitate.

"Students have been protesting because they don't
have adequate facilities. Hostels don't have water, students with financial
difficulties don't receive Mahapola Scholarships on time, and they don't have
enough amenities to study in peace. When they protest against these issues,
they're suspended, citing flimsy reasons.

It's a pathetic situation as students don't have the
freedom to do anything without risking being kicked out," Bandara said.

The 15 students were suspended for protesting against the
admission of several undergraduates to the Medical Faculty as private
candidates.

The undergraduates were therefore agitating against the
government's possible move towards the privatization of State Universities,
which may be initiated by the 'selling of degrees' to certain students.

The Chairman
of the Sri Lanka Independent Student Union Giyan Bandara Dissanayake said that
what has happened in the Sri Jayawardenapura University is a political
conspiracy. The objective of this conspiracy is to lure the first year students
to the extremist groups. He alleged that student groups affiliated to the
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Frontline Socialist Party are behind this
conspiracy. The objective of these groups is to revive ragging in the
universities. Mr. Giyan emphasized that using first year students for political
agitations cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

The student
union has requested the university administration to take stern action against
these activities. The Chairman of the Independent Students Union Yukthi
Ekadheera said that the Vice Chancellor of the Jayawardenapura University
should take all actions necessary to eliminate ragging in the university and
bring it to normal condition. He said that extremist groups are attempting to
shatter the peaceful situation in the university and to use the new students
for their petty political objectives. Meanwhile, the Chairman of the University
Grants Commission Professor Kshanika Hirimburegama said it is essential to
maintain discipline within the university network. She said that the university
administration is empowered to take action against the wrongdoers.

She said
that it is only a minority group that attempts to disrupt university activities
and their objective is to deny the free education opportunities. The
administration council of the Sri Jayawardenapura University has taken steps to
suspend classes for 40 students who have been identified as involved in
ragging. It is reported that the suspended students who belong to a certain
political party are attempting to force the university students to stage
demonstrations against the suspension of classes for identified students.